Cricket: Former Irish star Kim Garth opens up on her call-up for Australia

When Kim Garth first played for Ireland as a 14-year-old she had no idea her future could include playing for another country.

When Kim Garth’s parents’ phone flashed with her name at 3am in Dublin, they feared the news was not good from their daughter in Australia.

But it was the 26-year-old calling to let them know an international call-up she didn’t have on her radar, to change loyalties and play for Australia, had indeed happened.

Garth, who made her debut for Ireland at just 14, and went on to represent her country 84 times in ODIs and T20s, including five times against the Aussies, had been included in the squad for a tour of India.

It shouldn’t have been that much of a shock given the starring role Garth, an opening bowler who also has more than 1500 international runs, had played in the WBBL and for Victoria since her move to Melbourne in 2020 to play cricket full-time for a living and pursue residency.

But she was adamant playing for Australia, which she is likely to do more than once during the upcoming five-match T20 series, wasn’t part of the plan.

“It wasn’t really on the cards to be honest. I moved across and made Victoria my home to play cricket for a living, then hopefully get residency and be a local player in the Big Bash,” Garth said from India.

“Anything after that was a bonus, I didn’t think about it at all.

“I feel like I have put in some good consistent performances in domestic cricket, and I’m really excited to make the step back up to international cricket, albeit for a different team.”

Kim Garth has been a WBBL star. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

Garth got her first inkling it was a possibility when she was part of information sharing about the tour’s logistics, getting visas and the like as part of an extended squad.

But the phone call from national selection boss Shawn Flegler was still a pleasant surprise and her parents were just as excited.

“It was after we played the Hobart Hurricanes and I had an absolute shocker that day,” Garth said.

“I was very surprised, it was just a quick call, and it was about 3am back home, but I rang mum and dad straight away … they were very excited, all very happy.

“It’s been a big few years and moving across the world for your career, things like this definitely make it all worthwhile.”

Originally published as Cricket: Former Irish star Kim Garth opens up on her call-up for Australia